Diabetes group calls for insulin access, affordability

With insulin costs skyrocketing, the American Diabetes
Association recently called for greater transparency in the supply chain, demanding
investigation into price hikes and launching a petition to ensure that no diabetic
patients are denied access.

A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) confirmed that insulin prices nearly tripled in one decade —
between 2002 and 2013 — forcing some to ration their supplies, a practice
considered to be dangerous and likely to cause complications.

"No one in need of lifesaving insulin should ever go
without it due to prohibitive costs," Dr. Desmond Schatz, president
of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association, said. "We call on
Congress and all those involved in the insulin supply chain to solve this
crisis and to protect the millions of Americans who need insulin to stay alive.
We also invite all Americans to join us in taking action by signing our
petition."

If unmanaged or inadequately treated, diabetes can lead to
blindness, amputation, kidney failure, heart disease or stroke.

The association
advocates for universal access to health care. So many organizations are part
of the supply chain for insulin — from manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmaceutical
benefit managers to insurers and pharmacies — that price markup is not always obvious
or understandable to consumers.

The association has urged Congress to conduct hearings for a
better general understanding of the medicine’s cost structure, stating that it is
“the first step to identifying workable solutions.” The public can sign its petition
at StopDiabetes.com/insulin.